❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Minister for Education about the decision to remove Year 11 and 12 classes from Wyndham District High School, highlighting concerns about the viability of bus transport to Kununurra and the impact on Aboriginal students. The Minister defends the decision as locally driven and beneficial for students.
AnsweredQoN 517Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
wyndham district high school — year 11 and 12 classes
I refer to the minister’s decision to cut year 11 and 12 classes out of Wyndham District High School and instead offer a daily bus service to Kununurra. (1) Does the minister now accept that travelling on a bus for 1 000 kilometres a week is not a viable option if she wants to encourage students to finish year 12? (2) Is the minister aware that no students are currently using the bus service that her government contracted at a cost of $511 000 for a two-year contract? (3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE
I refer to the minister’s decision to cut year 11 and 12 classes out of Wyndham District High School and instead offer a daily bus service to Kununurra. (1) Does the minister now accept that travelling on a bus for 1 000 kilometres a week is not a viable option if she wants to encourage students to finish year 12? (2) Is the minister aware that no students are currently using the bus service that her government contracted at a cost of $511 000 for a two-year contract? (3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(1) Does the minister now accept that travelling on a bus for 1 000 kilometres a week is not a viable option if she wants to encourage students to finish year 12? (2) Is the minister aware that no students are currently using the bus service that her government contracted at a cost of $511 000 for a two-year contract? (3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(2) Is the minister aware that no students are currently using the bus service that her government contracted at a cost of $511 000 for a two-year contract? (3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(1) Does the minister now accept that travelling on a bus for 1 000 kilometres a week is not a viable option if she wants to encourage students to finish year 12? (2) Is the minister aware that no students are currently using the bus service that her government contracted at a cost of $511 000 for a two-year contract? (3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(2) Is the minister aware that no students are currently using the bus service that her government contracted at a cost of $511 000 for a two-year contract? (3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(3) Does the minister realise or even care that, because of her failures, young Aboriginal people are missing out on completing year 11 and 12? (4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(4) Will the minister now admit that this was a stupid and costly experiment, and will she now provide Wyndham District High School with the resources that it needs to reinstate year 11 and 12 classes? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
(1)–(4) I was recently at Wyndham District High School. It turns out that the decision to change the year 11 and 12 courses from Wyndham to Kununurra was made at the beginning of 2008. Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That’s not true. Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : It is true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : There was discussion but there was no decision until you came to government. There was discussion for years about the district high schools and we protected the funds. We protected the funds, minister, and you know that. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I am sorry; it was 2009, not 2008. That was my mistake. At the beginning of last year the decision was made with the district director, Bill Mann, about the two schools at Wyndham and Kununurra. The decision was made that the best courses of study would be provided at Kununurra District High School. There are far more students in year 11 and 12 at Kununurra and it was felt that the few students in year 11 and 12 at Wyndham would be much better off if they went to Kununurra. The decision was made well before the later decision about the senior school allocation. That was the decision locally. This government is promoting schools making local decisions—decisions that are right for those schools and for those communities. The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
The member also referred to the young people from Wyndham who are of year 11 and 12 age. I understand from my discussions both in Wyndham and in Kununurra recently that a number of those students who originally chose to travel by bus are attending boarding schools in various starts of the state, some of them in the Northern Territory. I have checked this matter with the Director General of Education and she assures me that the students at the district high schools are accounted for and are attending schools, not necessarily in their own area but in other areas. Indeed, I know of situations in which young people from Wyndham and other parts of the Kimberley are attending boarding schools in the south of the state away from their home environment and their families, believing that they will have a much better opportunity to gain an education away from aspects of their own communities that are often detrimental to completing school.
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